Buckle attaching apparatus



W. J. M GEE BUCKLE ATTACHING APPARATUS May 11, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 31. 1961 W////a/77 (f M Gee I NVEN TOR.

/! NOR/v5 VJ May, 11, 1965 w. J. MOGEE 3,182,386

. BUCKLE ATTACHING APPARATUS W////0/77 4f M Gee INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,182,3$6 BUCKLE ATTACG APPARATUS William J. McGee,Box 227, Chapman Ranch, Tex. Filed Oct. 31, E61, Ser. No. 148,967

20 Ciaims. (Cl. 29-412) This invention relates to improved apparatus forattaching buckles to straps, such as ties used in the baling of cotton.In one of its aspects, it relates to such apparatus for attachingbuckles of a type which have a slot therethrough to closely receive thestrap.

As far as I am aware, it is the predominant practice in cotton gins toattach buckles to straps of this type by hand. Specifically, an end ofthe strap is passed through the buckle slot and then bent over andhammered upon another portion of the strap on the opposite side of thebuckle. Obviously, this practice is time consuming and expensive insofaras labor is concerned.

Although I am aware of labor-saving apparatus of this general type, I amnot aware of its having been put to any widespread use. This isunderstandable, however, due to its very complicated and expensiveconstruction. Furthermore, to my knowledge, none of the earlierapparatus is capable of attaching this particular type of buckle, whichis in widespread use throughout the industry.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus of asimple and inexpensive construction for attaching buckles to such strapswith a minimum of hand operation.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this type which isparticularly adapted for attaching the aforementioned buckles which haveslots to closely receive the strap.

A further object is to provide such apparatus which permits the bucklesto be fed to a position for attachment to a strap with speed and yet inproperly timed relation to the remainder of the operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparentto one skilled in the art upon a consider ation of the specification,the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughoutto designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the particular type of buckle abovementioned and attached to a strap by means of apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of such apparatusduring an initial stage of its operation wherein a buckle has just beenreleased from a chute into a supported positon to receive an end of astrap through the slot therein;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of such apparatus, on

an enlarged scale, and showing in broken lines the posi tion a strapwould occupy when moved into supported position on the apparatus with anend thereof extended through the buckle;

FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG, 2, but during a subsequent step inthe operation of the apparatus in which the end of the strap has beenbent over and then hammered down upon another portion thereof andanother buckle has just been fed into the chute;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus similar to FIG. 2A,but during the operation shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of such apparatus, similar toFIGS. 2A and 3A, but during an intermediate stage of its operation inwhich the end of the strap is being bent by an arm which has raised thechute to clear a hammer for engagement with the bent end;

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FIG. 5 is an elevational view from the front end of the apparatus, asseen from the left of FIGS. 2 and 3, and with the parts thereof disposedin an inactive position prior to a buckling operation; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of such apparatus, as seen along broken line66 of FIG. 5, in the inactive position of FIG. 5 and with parts thereofremoved.

With reference now to the details of the above-described drawings, thebuckle 10 shown in FIG. 1 has, as previously mentioned, a slot 11therein to closely receive the strap 12. More particularly, the slot isdisposed toward an edge of the buckle over which the end 13 of the strapis bent onto and adjacent the portion 14. As well known to those skilledin the art of baling cotton, these straps or ties 12 are made from arelatively stiff metal which require that the bent ends thereof behammered onto the portions 14 to securely attach the buckle thereto. Asalso known to those skilled in this art, when the buckle 14 is soattached to the strap and the strap is wrapped about the bale as it isheld in a compressed condition, the other end thereof is bent uponitself and looped sideways into another slot 15. Then, when the bale ispermitted to expand, the fold on the opposite end of the strap will bepressed beneath an adjacent portion of the strap.

As shown in the other figures of the drawings, the apparatus 16 forattaching the buckle to the strap in the manner indicated in FIG. 1comprises a base 17 having legs 18 adapted to rest upon a supportingsurface 19 and reinforced by suitable braces 20 extending therebetween.The base also includes a platform or bed 22 above the legs having sideframe members 21 connected to the upper ends of the legs in any suitablefashion. The front end of the bed is closed by a curved plate 23 securedto and extending between the side frame members 21, and the rear endthereof has an opening defined between a pair of angle irons 25 securedto the side frame members 21, as shown in FIG. 6. The bottom of theplatform is also substantially open, except for a table 26 extendingbetween and supported from the opposite side members 21.

A top wall 27 of the platform is also supported from the side framemembers as well as by columns 28 which extend upwardly from the table26. As best shown in FIG. 2A, the strap 12 is supported upon the topwall 27 between guide rails 29 thereon which guide the end 13 of thestrap through the slot 11 in the supported buckle Ill as it is movedlongitudinally into supported position.

A buckle I0 is supported within a cradle 30 rockably mounted on the baseby means of a hinge 31 mounted from the table 26, as shown in FIGS. 2Aand 3A. The lower edge of the buckle 10 is supported upon one flange 32of the hinge, and the buckle is held upright by means of a magnet 33carried beneath top wall 27 of the platform in a position to hold theside of the buckle. The cradle also has an angularly disposed plate 34extending rearwardly from the support flange 32 to guide the buckle l0delivered from a chute into a position from which it is attracted bymagnets 33 into the upright position shown.

The cradle is normally urged to the buckle supporting position shown inFIG. 2A by means of a counterweight 35 disposed on an arm 36 extendingforwardly from support plate 32. However, hinge 31 permits the cradle 30to rock in a clockwise direction when so urged, as by the turning of thebuckle 10 in a counterclockwise direction from the upright position ofFIG. 2A to the horizontal position of FIG. 3A. Thus, as it is attachedto the strap 12, the buckle is permitted to turn into a position inwhich it extends longitudinally and substantially parallel to the strap,as shown in FIG. 3A. This is an important feature of this apparatussince, as previously mentioned, the strap 12 fits rather closely withinthe slot 11 of the'buckle so that folding of the end of the .strap as itis hammered down upon the portion 14 thereof close to the edge of thebuckle will urge the buckle into thisparallel position. Obviously, whenthe buckle is so attached and the strap removed from its support, thecradle is automatically urged by the counterweight to the originalposition shown in FIG. 2A for supporting a subsequent buckle to beattached to another strap.

In the actual attachmentof the buckle to the strap, the strap end 13 isfirst bent into approximately the position it will occupy when soattached and then is hammered down upon the portion 14 of the strap tosecure it thereto, as shown in FIG. 1. This first stage of the attachment is accomplished by means of an arm 37 swingably mounted on thebase 22 by means of a shaft 38 extending between. side frame members 21.As best shown in FIG. 6, the arm has spaced-apart extensions 39 whichare bent toward their outer ends and then joined together by a roller40. Prior to actuation in a manner to be described, the longitudinalextensions of the arm 37 extend rearwardly and upwardly to disposeroller 40 just beneath the end 13 of the strap 12 to which the buckleIt) is to be attached.

Upon such actuation, the arm 37 swings in a counter clockwise directionto bend the end '13 of the strap approximately 180 to a position inwhich it is disposed at 'least substantially parallel and adjacent tothe portion also swingably mounted on the base by means of a shaft44rotatable at its opposite ends within side frame mernbers 21.Ofcourse, prepositioning of the strap end by means of the bendingarmpreserves a maximum amount stationary chute section.

of energy in the hammer for jarring purposes; More particularly, thehammer 43 has a head section which is flat on one side edge 45 forengaging the bent end 13 of the strap just behind the edge of the buckle10, as

is pivotally connected by a pin 46Lto spaced links 47 thereof which are,in turn, rotatable with the rock shaft 44. The head section is normallyurged to a position at substantially a right angle to the link 47 bymeans of a compression coil spring 48 disposed between an outward theother hand, upon return swinging of the arm and hamextension 49 thereonand an arm 50 secured between the links 47 and extending rearwardlytherefrom for a purpose to be described. More particularly, the spring'48 normally urges the hammer head section into a clock? wise positionlimited by an adjustable set screw 51 carried on the arm 50 although, asbest shown in FIG. 3A, it is compressible to absorb the shock of thehammer as it is moved down onto the bent end of the strap.

The shafts 38 and 44 extend outwardly from thesam side 'ofthe base andare linked together by a continuous chain 52 extending about sprockets53 on the outer ends of each. Thus, rotation of one shaft will in turnrotate the other to cause the bending arm and hammerto engage the strapend in the desired sequence in response to only. a single actuation bythe operator of the apparatus. ,As

posed and rotatably mounted from ab racket 56. on one of the braces 20of the base ,17. Thisfirstlin'k extends substantially horizontally forpivotal connection at its rearward'end to a substantially verticallyextending link j 75 n comprises a first link 55 uponwhich the pedal 54is dis 57 which is, in turn, pivotally connected to a crank 53 ontheshaft 44. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2A'and 3A, the crank is rotated in acounterclockwise .direction by depression of the pedal 54 a matter. ofseveral inches to thereby move both the' bending arm and the hammer fromthe positions of FIG. 2A to the positions of FIG. 3A.

'When a buckle has been attached to the strap and the operator releasesfoot pedal 54, the bending arm and hammer are automatically returned tothe position of FIG. 2A by means of a counterweight'59secured to theouter end of the aforementioned arm 50 on the hammer. As can be seenfrom FIG. 3A, this arm is disposed in a substantially'horizontalposition at the completion of the buckle attachment so that thecounterweight 59 provides a maximum of mechanical advantage in returningthe arm and hammer to the position of FIG. 2A, where they are located bymeans of a stop 60 on the base. i

The buckles are delivered one at a timeto the cradle support 30 thereforby means of a chute el having its lower end disposed above it and itsupper end positioned to receive buckles whichare also fed thereto one ata time from'a cartridge 62, The chute comprises a first stationarysection 63 carried by the cartridge 62 with'its upper end disposeditoreceive a buckle 10a supported on the-bottom wall'64 of the cartridge.vThe chutealso includes a swingable section 65 connected with the lowerend of the stationary section 63 by means of a hinge 6'5.

Asbest shown in FIG. 5, roller bearings 67 are carried on opposite sidesofthe swin'gable chute sectionfiS for guided movement over flanges: esconnected to and extending upwardly from side frame members 21 of thebase.

As shown in FIG. 2, the-chute section 65 is normally located in theposition of FIGJZA by means of limit screw. 85 engageable with a flangeon the side of the This disposes its lower end relatively close to theguide plate 34 =ofthe cradle support'for the buckles to minimize thefree 'drop of the buckle from the chute'into the cradle.- Thisarrangement is made possible by the hinged connection of the chutesection 65 to the section 63 which permits section 65 to be engaged bythe arm 37 and swung out of the-way of the hammer 43 as they are swungin a clockwise direction from the position of FIG; 2A to the position ofFIG. 3A. As best shown in FIG. 4, there is'a curved impact plate 69 onthe lower side of chute. section 655 which is positioned forinitialengagement by the roller 40 of the arm.

prior to movement of the hammer4$ therepast, 1 con.- templatethat the;impact of the arm with the plate 69 will therepast without obstructionand loss ,of energy. ,On

mer in a clockwise direction, the impact of the back side of the hammerwith the chute is of no great concern'because the hammer hasaccomplished its 'p urpose. p

A single buckle 10b is selectively retained within and then releasedfrom the chute by means of a pawl 7il'pivotally connected'on theswingableasection 65 thereof for movement between the position of FIG..3A, in. which it engages with the lower end of the buckle 16b, and

the position of FIG. 2A in which it is disposed outwardly.

of the; chute to permit. the buckle to drop into the cradle therefor.Movement of the pawl 70 from the; retaining to releasing position isaccomplished by the operator by means-of another foot pedal71connectedto the shaft of thelink72iis pivotally connected to another.link'73,

which in turn is piyotallyco'nnectedto a third link 74 extendingsubstantially rearwardlyand pivotally connected t-oa fourth link. 75.The latter is pivotally connected to a crank 76 on the shaft 7012 sothat depression of the pedal 71 by the operators foot will swing thecrank from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 2 to therebyswing the pawl 70 in a clockwise direction to the releasing position ofFIG. 2A. The linkage is normally urged by means of a spring 77 actingbetween the link 74 and the legs of the base of the apparatus to aposition for returning pedal 71 to the FIG. 3 position in which the pawlis adapted to retain a buckle in the chute.

Thus, assuming that a buckle b is retained in the chute 61, as shown inFIG. 3A, the operator first depresses the foot pedal 71 to release intosupported position within the cradle 30, as shown in FIG. 2A. At thistime, the operator may release the pedal 71 and extend the strap 12longitudinally through the slot 11 in the supported buckle to a positionin which the end thereof is disposed above roller 40, as shown in FIG.2A. Then, upon depression of the foot pedal 54, the operator causes thebending arm 37 and hammer 43 to swing into positions to attach thebuckle to the strap in the manner previously described. He may thenremove the strap with the buckle attached thereto from its supportedposition on the base to prepare the apparatus for attaching subsequentbuckles.

The cartridge 62, which is supported from the side frame members 21 fordisposal substantially vertically thereabove, is open at its upper endfor loading purposes and at both sides of the lowermost buckle 10aresting upon the bottom wall 64 opposite the open end of sta tionarychute section 63. This lowermost buckle is fed into the chute by meansof a finger 78 swingably mounted on a shaft 79 rotatably supported atits opposite ends from the side members 21 of the base. Thus, as can beseen from FIGS. 2A and 3A, when the finger 78 swings in acounterclockwise direction, it engages the rear end of buckle 10a andejects it into retained position within the chute, as shown by thebuckle 10a. When the finger swings backwardly in a clockwise direction,it is returned to a position for ejecting the next adjacent buckle.

This swinging of the finger to eject the lowermost buckle isaccomplished by the engagement with an outwardly extending flange 80 onthe finger of a rod 82 between spaced arms 81 on the outer end of arm50. More particularly, the rod is positioned to engage and swing theflange 80, and thereby swing the finger 78, as the arm 50 is moved withthe shaft 44 upon swinging of the hammer 43 in the buckle attachingoperation. The finger 78 is normally urged to the inactive position ofFIG. 2A by means of a spring 83 (FIG. 1) connected between a leg 18 ofthe base and a slotted link 84 connected to the pin 79. Thus, a buckleis automatically fed into the chute in response to each bucklingoperation, so that after the operator releases the pawl 70 fordelivering a buckle into the supporting cradle 30, and raises his footfrom the pedal 71 to permit the pawl to return to the retaining positionof FIG. 3A, the buckle 10b fed by the finger '78 will move intoengagement with the pawl 70 for subsequent delivery to the cradlesupport upon removal of the strap and buckle 10 just attached thereto.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth,together with'other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possibleembodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. Apparatus forattaching a buckle to a strap, comprising means to support the strap,means for supporting the buckle in a position to receive the straptherethrough as the strap is moved into supported position, and meansfor bending an end of the strap on one side of the buckle over upon aportion thereof on the other side of the buckle and then hammering saidbent end against said portion.

2. Apparatus for attaching a buckle to a strap, comprising a base havingmeans thereon to support the strap and to support the buckle in aposition to receive the strap therethrough, an arm mounted on the basefor swinging into a position to bend an end of the strap on one side ofthe buckle over upon a portion thereof on the other side of the buckle,a hammer mounted on the base for swinging into a position for hammeringsaid bent end against said portion of the strap.

3. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 2, including meanslinking the arm and hammer to one another and to a foot pedal forsimultaneous actuation toward strap end bending and hammering positions,respectively.

4. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 2, including a chutehaving one end extending relatively close to the buckle supporting meansfor feeding a buckle thereto, each of said arm and hammer beingswingable over said buckle and said arm being engageable with said oneend of the chute to move it out of the path of the hammer as said arm isswung into strap bending position.

5. For use in attaching a buckle to a strap, wherein the buckle has aslot therein to closely receive the strap, apparatus comprising a base,means on the base for supporting the strap in longitudinally extendingposition, means on the base for supporting the buckle in a positiontransversely of the strap supporting means to receive the strap throughthe slot therein as the strap is moved to its supported position, meansfor securing an end of the strap on one side of the buckle over upon aportion thereof on the other side of the buckle, and means mounting thebuckle supporting means on the base for swinging from buckle supportingposition to another position in which it permits the buckle to extendsubstantially longitudinally parallel to the strap as the end of saidstrap is so secured.

6. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 5, including means forautomatically returning the buckle supporting means from the otherposition to buckle supporting position.

7. Apparatus for attaching a buckle to a strap, comprising means forsupporting the strap in a substantially horizontal position, means forsupporting the buckle in a position to receive the strap through a slottherein, a chute above the supporting means for delivering a bucklethereto, means in the chute for normally retaining a buckle therein andthen releasing it for delivery dropping onto said buckle supportingmeans, and means for securing an end of the strap on one side of thebuckle over upon a portion thereof on the other side of the buckle afterit has been so delivered to its supporting means. I

8. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 7, including a cartridgefor containing a plurality of buckles, and means responsive to actuationof said securing means for feeding one buckle at a time from thecartridge into retained position within the chute for subsequent releasetherefrom.

9. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 8, wherein said feedingmeans includes a finger normally disposed adjacent one edge of theoutermost buckle in the cartridge, and means operable upon actuation ofsaid securing means to move the finger to a position sliding tllileoutermost buckle out of the cartridge and into the c ute.

Apparatus for attaching a buckle to a strap, com-. prising a base, meansfors'upporting the strap in a substantially horizontal position on .thebase, means for supporting the buckle in afposition to receive the straptherethrough, a chute above the buckle supporting means for delivering abuckle thereto,,means in the chute for normally retaining a buckletherein, meansincluding an arm mounted on the base for swinging into aposition to bend an end of the'strap on one s'ide of thebuckle over aportion thereof on the other side of the buckle, and another arm mountedon the base. for swinging into a position to release the buckle,retaining means for dropping'a buckle onto its, supportingmeans prior toswinging of said first-mentioned arm into its position of bending saidstrap, end.

11. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 10, including meansincluding a separate foot pedal linked to'each of the bending andbuckle, releasing arms for actuating them independently of. one another.

12; Apparatus for attaching a hat, relatively thin buckle to a strap,wherein the buckle has a slot therein to closely receive the strap, saidapparatus comprising a base, means on the base for supporting :thestrap, ina

means for containing a plurality of buckles and feeding them onto thebuckle supporting means, an arm mounted on the base for swinging into aposition to bend an end of the strap on one side of the buckle over upona portion thereof on the other side of the buckle, and a hammer mountedon the. base for swinging into a position' for hammering said'bent endagainst said portion of the strap, said base being open at one side ofthe buckle supporting means to permit the buckle to swing intosubstantial align ment with the strap as it is hammeredthereagainst.

16.Apparatus for attaching a buckle having a slot thereinto a strap,comprising a base, means onthe base to support the strap, means on thebase to supportthe buckle with its slot in positionto receivefthe strapas the strap is moved longitudinally into supported position, an armmounted on the basefor swinging into a'positi on to bend an end of thestrap on one side of the buckle over upon a portion thereof on the otherside of the'buckle,

longitudinally extendingposition and for supporting thebuckle on itsedge andwith its slot in a position to receive the strapv as the strapis moved longitudinally into supported position, means for containing aplurality of buckles and feeding them onto the buckle supporting means,and means for securing an end of thestrap on one side of the buckle overupon a portion thereof on the other. side of the buckle, said base beingopen at one side of the buckle supporting means to permit the rbuckleitoswinginto substantial alignment with the strap as it is e r d. there-tr 13, Apparatus for attaching a flat,.relatively thin'buckle' to tr i'whrh h h u kl as a l t h re to s l receive the strap, said apparatuscomprising a base, means on the base for, supporting the strap in alongitudinally ex ends PQ i B nd a pp r n he uck e oh. t

ed e and. w th t l t a a Phh h t rece e, t e s r p as the strap is movedlongitudinally into tsupported position, means for containing aplurality of buckles and mhahs f rhhhd aah and of the st ph Qhh e of hhhhhlh qvhr scrt o h ?.Qf oh. t e et er side o he buckle and thenhammering said bent end against said edge and with its .slot in aposition to receive the strap as he h ri is mq e eqnsithd all i suppo t-r tion, means for containing a plurality of buckles and feeding themonto the buckle supporting means, and an arm mounted on the base' forswinging into a position to bend an a 5 1 tr nhh one id f e b ck e ovepon a portion thereofon the other, side oftheibuckle,v and a hammer forhammering said bent end against said portion of, the strap, sa id basebeing open at'one'end ofthe buckle supporting means to permit the buckleto swing into substantial alignment with the strap as it is hammeredthereagain'str t 15. Apparatus for attaching a flat, relatively thinbuckle to a'strap, wherein the buckle has a slot therein to closelyreceive the strap, saidapparatus comprising a base, means "on the basefor supporting the strap in a longitudinally extending positionv and forsupporting the buckleton its edge andfwith its slot ina positiontoreceive the strap as,

the strap is moved longitudinally into supported position,

and a hammer .for'hammering" said bent end against said p'ortionofithestrap. l J i 17. Apparatus of the, character defined in claim 16including means for simultaneously actuating'the arr'n' and;

beneath the end of the strap beyond the buckle, a hammer rotatablymounted on] the base for swinging' about' a transverse axis spacedlongitudinally rearwardly of the axis about'which the arm-swings, andmeans for'swinging thearm andhammer about their respective axes to,cause the free end of the arm to bend saidend 10rthe strap ver uponfaportion thereof and; the hammer 'toengage ,with

said bent iniemlhdiath he em nt serene r the free end of the arm andsaidvbuckla y a,

19. Apparatus for attaching a flat, re'latively thin buckle to a strap,wherein the buckle has a slotthereint'o closely receive the strap, saidapparatus comprising a base, means on the base for supporting the strap"in a longitudinally extending position, 'meansbeneath, and to one endof the strap supporting means and supporting the buckle on its edge andwith its'slot in a position to receive the strap as the strap is movedlongitudinally into supported position, a'container for a plurality ofsaid buckles, andgmeans for feeding individual buckles from .said*container to said buckle supporting meansfor -so receiving said strap,and means for securing an end of the strap on one side of the buckleovert upon a portion thereof-on the other side of the buckle, saidbuckle supporting means and thetadjacent area of said basepermitting'the buckle being secured to swing intosubstantial alignmentwith the strap 1 20. Apparatus of thecharacter defined in claim- 19,including magnetic means for'maintainingthe buckle in a positionperpendicular to' the strap supportingfrneans ,aftersaid buckle has beenfedinto said buckle supporting References Cited bythc Examiner -j 1UNITED STATES PATENTS '2/15' Rodgers- 1S3'l 5/41 Bangs [2 99212 CHARLESw. LANHAMjRriniqry Examiner;

1. APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING A BUCKLE TO A STRAP, COMPRISING MEANS TOSUPPORT THE STRAP, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BUCKLE IN A POSITION TORECEIVE THE STRAP THERETHROUGH AS THE STRAP IS MOVED INTO SUPPORTEDPOSITION, AND MEANS FOR BENDING AN END ON THE STRAP ON ONE SIDE OF THEBUCKLE OVER UPON A PORTION THEREOF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE